Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound criteria is denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to SMC prior to May 23, 2008.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss, left shoulder condition, and left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder AC joint degenerative joint disease and cervical spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, effective from September 16, 2006.,A rating of 10 percent was assigned for the Veteran's right ankle strain since July 17, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities were remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's skin disability, tinea versicolor, is granted service connection. The claims for residuals of inguinal hernia repairs and hand disabilities are remanded due to lack of current evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and he seeks a higher rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition has been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder, wrist, and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the submission of outstanding medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for motor tic disorder and left shoulder stiffness, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service. The appeals were dismissed as the Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to establish a direct relationship.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and neck condition have been denied as service connection due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no indication in the STRs or subsequent medical records that the Veteran experienced any shoulder or neck injuries during active duty. The VA examiners provided negative nexus opinions based on the absence of documented complaints and findings related to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disability as there are no remaining questions to be resolved.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left eye conjunctivitis is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for a right shoulder disability was improper, and therefore restored service connection.

The Veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the October 2002 rating decision that granted service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with resection, distal clavicle and assigned an initial evaluation of 10 percent is dismissed because the October 2002 decision was subsumed by a later Board decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right elbow, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his sleep apnea, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The decisions are based on direct evidence of in-service injury and current disability.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, and left elbow disorders due to additional studies provided by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is at least as likely as not proximately due to, or the result of his service-connected back disability. Therefore, service connection for a right shoulder disability on secondary basis is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability and her in-service injury. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left shoulder condition, which she claims was caused by an incident during active duty when she fell overboard from her ship.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The decision is final as the Veteran's claims are no longer before the Board.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a left knee disability, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability.,A VA examination is needed to determine the likely etiology of the claimed left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder, bilateral elbow, left hip, right knee, left groin, and neck disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran should be afforded Gulf War examinations and VA medical opinions.